Hepatic Artery Reconstruction Research Articles

Hepatic artery reconstruction with inferior mesenteric vein graft in pediatric living donor liver transplantation

We report a transplant of the left lateral liver segments with two arteries for a pediatric recipient from a live donor. A six-month-old female patient was diagnosed with liver cirrhosis secondary to biliary atresia and scheduled for LDLT (father as donor). Left lateral hepatectomy was performed at the donor site. The dissection of the left HA, which divided immediately after its origin, showed two branches for segments II and III. The artery for segment III was anastomosed to the recipient HA. The artery for segment II was too short for direct anastomosis with the gastroduodenal artery. After an unsuccessful attempt to use of the recipient's saphenous vein, the recipient's IMV was used as an interposition graft. No post-operative complications were observed. The outcome of this case demonstrates that left lateral segments with two arteries can be successfully used if proper surgical techniques are applied. From this experience we can recommend the IMV as an alternative to the saphenous vein for an interposition graft.

Management of concomitant hepatic artery injury in patients with iatrogenic major bile duct injury after laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Concomitant hepatic artery injury is a rare but severe complication associated with bile duct injury during laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). Sixty patients referred with biliary injury after LC between April 1998 and December 2005 were divided into two groups according to the time elapsed between injury and definitive surgical revision; patients in group 1 were referred early (within 4 days) after operation and those in group 2 were referred later. Hepatic rearterialization was performed in addition to biliary reconstruction when technically possible. Damage to the hepatic artery was detected in ten patients. Hepatic rearterialization was carried out in five patients by end-to-end anastomosis (one), or by using an autologous graft (three) or allogeneic vascular graft (one). Three patients in group 2 underwent right hemihepatectomy without arterial reconstruction owing to liver necrosis or lobar atrophy. Three of ten patients died from postoperative complications. Combined bile duct and hepatic artery injury during LC led to a complicated clinical course, with a high mortality rate. Reconstruction of the right hepatic artery might be helpful in reducing hepatic ischaemia, but is usually feasible only if the injury is identified early.

Hepatic arterial reconstruction and complications management in adult-to-adult living donor liver transplantation

To explore the experience of hepatic arterial reconstruction and its management of complications in adult-to-adult living donor liver transplantation (A-A LDLT) using right lobe liver grafts. From January 2002 to July 2006, 50 of A-A LDLT using right lobe liver grafts were performed. All arterial anastomosis were performed to protect the donor hepatic arterial supply, in which donor right hepatic artery was sutured to recipient right hepatic artery in 24 patients, to recipient proper hepatic artery in 12 patients, to recipient left hepatic artery in 3 patients, to recipient common hepatic artery in 2 patients, to recipient aberrant right hepatic artery arising from superior mesenteric artery in 2 patients. Interpositional bypass using autogenous saphenous vein was performed between donor right hepatic artery and recipient common hepatic artery in 2 patients. Bypass was done between donor right hepatic artery and recipient abdominal aorta using autogenous saphenous vein in 2 patients and using stored cadaveric iliac vessels in 2 patients respectively. The diameter of donor right hepatic artery is between 1.5-2.5 mm, microsurgical technique was used under the magnified lobe of 3.5 times and operative microscope of 5-10 times. In these series, hepatic artery thrombosis (HAT) occurred in 2 recipients on 1st and 7th days following A-A LDLT (4%), which were revascularized with autogenous saphenous vein between donor right hepatic artery and recipient abdominal aorta immediately, HAT in 1 recipient occurred one and a half month following A-A LDLT, but no symptom was presented. No hepatic artery stenosis and aneurysm occurred during follow-up period. No death related to hepatic artery complications occurred. All recipients were followed up from 2 to 52 months (mean follow-up 9 months). 1-year survival rate was 92%. Proper anastomotic vessel choose and use of microsurgical technique in hepatic arterial reconstruction would reduce significantly the incidence of hepatic artery complications and provide an excellent graft survival following A-A LDLT.

Surgical techniques of arterialized orthotopic liver transplantation in rats

Recently, much attention has been paid to hepatic artery reconstruction in rat liver transplantation, which can prevent bile duct ischemia and preserve better liver structure. In this study, three methods of graft arterialization, including sleeve, cuff, and stent anastomosis, were conducted and the results were compared. Orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) with rearterialization was conducted in 90 rats, which were divided into sleeve, cuff, and stent groups (n = 30 in each). Ninety-six rats received OLTs with standardized two-cuff technique without rearterialization as a control. The sleeve technique included an end-to-end anastomosis between the donor common hepatic artery and recipient proper hepatic artery, or between the donor celiac artery and recipient common hepatic artery. Cuff technique involved an anastomosis between the donor common hepatic artery and recipient common hepatic artery. In the stent technique, the recipient hepatic artery and donor hepatic artery were connected using an intraluminal polyethylene stent. The arterial anastomosis time and arterial patency rate in each group were recorded. The liver graft survival and bile duct complication rates were measured. The total surgical time of OLT with rearterialization was (118.3 +/- 12.9) minutes in the sleeve group, (106.2 +/- 11.6) minutes in the cuff, (93.8 +/- 10.2) minutes in the stent, and (88.2 +/- 9.6) minutes in the control. The corresponding anhepatic phase was (19.6 +/- 2.8), (19.2 +/- 2.2), (18.6 +/- 1.8), and (20.0 +/- 2.5) minutes respectively in the sleeve, cuff, stent, and control groups. One-week survival rate was 86.5% in the control, and 86.7% in the groups with rearterialization. No significant difference was detected in the survival rate between them (P > 0.05). The incidence of biliary complications in non-rearterialized group (17.7%) was significantly higher than that in the rearterialized group (6.7%, P < 0.05). No significant difference was found in the incidence of biliary complications among the three rearterialized groups (P > 0.05). The OLT with rearterialization is more physiological than that without rearterialization, and leads to a lower rate of bile duct complications. Among the three methods of rearterialization, sleeve anastomosis is associated with a higher survival rate, allowing less dissection and less injury to the surrounding tissues.

Microsurgical hepatic artery reconstruction during living-donor liver transplantation by using head-mounted surgical binocular system

We have described our experience with arterial reconstruction during living-donor liver transplantation by using Varioscope AF3--a head-mounted surgical binocular system with automatic focusing and continuous zoom magnification from 3.6x to 7.2x. From July 1996 to December 2006, 91 grafts were implanted in 89 living-donor liver transplantation recipients, including two that required retransplantation. For microsurgical reconstruction of the graft hepatic artery, a conventional operating microscope was used in the first 10 transplants and Varioscope, in the subsequent 81. The time required to complete arterial reconstruction while using a conventional operating microscope and Varioscope was 78.6 +/- 44.6 min and 35.5 +/- 15.5 min, respectively. No arterial complications, including hepatic artery thrombosis, occurred in any of the 89 patients during the observation period. In living-donor liver transplantation, successful hepatic artery reconstruction can be safely carried out using Varioscope.

Microvascular hepatic artery reconstruction in pediatric abdominal transplantation: Pearls and pitfalls

The "back-wall first" hepatic artery microanastomosis in pediatric liver transplantation saves lives and reduces morbidity. We describe our technique of hepatic artery reconstruction and offer a systematic and multi-team collaborative approach that optimizes surgical outcomes.

Anatomical and technical aspects of hepatic artery reconstruction in living donor liver transplantation

We describe our experience with arterial reconstruction in living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) focusing on anatomic and technical aspects. From June 1994 to February 2003, 132 grafts were implanted in 130 LDLT recipients including 1 re-transplant and 1 dual graft transplantation. Donor and recipient records were retrospectively reviewed. Anatomical variations in graft arteries were classified as: Type I, single pedicle with (Ia) or without (Ib) aberrant artery (left hepatic artery (HA) from left gastric artery or right HA from superior mesenteric artery); Type II, double pedicles with (IIa) or without (IIb) aberrant artery; Type III, equal to or greater than 3 pedicles. Statistical analyses were carried out using Mann-Whitney U-test. There were 72 male and 58 female recipients. The median age at transplantation was 3 years (range, 0.5 to 61). In left grafts, there were 34 Type Ia, 6 Type Ib, 33 Type IIa, 13 Type IIb, and 3 Type III; whereas in right grafts, there were 35 Type Ia, 6 Type Ib, 1 Type IIa, and 1 Type IIb. Two-in-one (2-in-1) segmental resection technique in graft HA harvest was carried out whenever there were tiny arteries supplying the donor graft. All HA reconstructions were done under microvascular techniques. There was no donor mortality and 1 recipient in-hospital mortality. There was no graft or patient loss due to HA occlusion. Donor complications included 3 biloma, 1 bile leak, 1 biliary stricture, and 1 late intestinal obstruction secondary to postoperative adhesions that were all successfully managed by non-operative interventions, except the biliary stricture that needed a revision to Roux-en-Y hepatico-jejunostomy. The 1-year and 5-year recipient survivals were 98% and 94%, respectively. Successful HA reconstruction can be safely carried out in LDLT recipients and live donors with multiple graft arteries using the 2-in-1 segmental resection of donor HA under microvascular techniques.

Induction of chemical hepatocarcinogenesis and establishment of orthotopic liver transplantation model with hepatocarcinoma in rats

To explore the inducing method for hepatic carcinoma in rats and the operative technique in establishment of orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) model in rats with induced hepatic tumor. Hepatic carcinoma was induced by diethylnitrosamine (DENA) in rats. Then OLT was performed, using a two-cuff vessel anastomosis method modified from that introduced by Kamada, with reconstruction of hepatic artery. At the observation time point (18 weeks) after the initiation of carcinogenesis, the one-month survival rate in OLT group was higher than that in non-OLT group, 56.3% and 21.4% respectively, P < 0.05. The operative successful rate in tumor rats group and control group was 87.5% and 90.0%, respectively. In OLT rats with hepatic carcinoma group, metastasis mainly occurred in lung and abdomen, while only 2 cases of intrahepatic recurrence were observed. There was significant difference between the tumor rats group and control group in cum survival rate. DENA can wholesale induce stable rat model for hepatic carcinoma. OLT can markedly elevate survival rate in rats with liver cancer. In rats with induced hepatic tumor, OLT model, suggested by the author, was established with hepatic arterial reconstruction and it offers a satisfied method with more similar pattern of physiological setting and carcinoma development situation.

Intraoperative assessment of reconstructed vessels in living-donor liver transplantation, using a novel fluorescence imaging technique

In living-donor liver transplantation (LDLT), hepatic arterial thrombosis and portal venous thrombosis are critical problems that can result in graft loss. Only intraoperative Doppler ultrasound (IDUS) is able to evaluate blood flow in the reconstructed vessels. The aim of this study was to evaluate the utility of a newly developed fluorescence imaging technique using indocyanine green (ICG) for visualizing reconstructed vessels. In three patients who had undergone LDLT, IDUS was performed after reconstruction of the portal vein and hepatic artery. Fluorescence images were then recorded, using a SPY system (Novadeq Technologies), which employs ICG as a fluorescent imaging medium activated by light. The ICG (3.75 mg) was injected intravenously, then, 10 s later, the images were recorded for 30 s (first photographic recording). Two minutes later, the same procedure was repeated (second photographic recording), and 40 min later, images were obtained without injection of ICG (third photographic recording). After portal venous reconstruction, IDUS demonstrated a nonphasic and continuous waveform, with a mean velocity of 52.1 cm/s and a mean portal blood flow volume of 69.5 ml/s per kg. After hepatic arterial reconstruction, a pulsatile waveform with a mean peak systolic velocity of 52.4 cm/s and a mean resistance index of 0.76 was obtained. The first photographic recording clearly visualized the blood flow in the reconstructed hepatic artery, without kinking or stenosis, in all three patients. The second photographic recording visualized the flow in the portal vein without stenosis, kinking, or stagnation. The third photographic recording demonstrated the excretion of ICG into bile, thus confirming bile production by the grafts. Fluorescence imaging can clearly visualize the reconstructed hepatic artery and portal vein and demonstrate the production of bile by a transplanted liver graft. A combination of IDUS and the new system can guarantee the patency of the reconstructed vessels.

Clinical significance of reconstruction of the right hepatic artery for biliary malignancy

The clinical significance of resectional surgery with reconstruction of the right hepatic artery for biliary malignancy remains unclear. Between 1990 and 2004, six patients (5%) with cholangiocarcinoma and five patients (3%) with gallbladder carcinoma with possible involvement of the right hepatic artery underwent resectional surgery with reconstruction of the right-sided hepatic artery. The surgical procedures included extended left hemihepatectomy (n=4), left trisectionectomy (n=1), central bisegmentectomy (n=1), resection of anterior segment and inferior area of segment 4 (n=2), resection of segment 5 and inferior area of segment 4 (n=1), and extrahepatic bile duct resection (n=2). Segmental resection and reconstruction of the right (n=7), anterior (n=1), or posterior (n=3) hepatic artery was performed by end-to-end anastomosis (n=5), using the right gastroepiploic artery (n=4), the gastroduodenal artery (n=1), or an autologous venous graft (n=1). There was no in-hospital mortality. Histopathological arterial involvement was present in seven patients, and the surgical margin was positive in five patients. The median survival was 23 months in R0 patients (n=6), while it was 13 months in R1 patients (n=5) (p=0.16). Reconstruction of the right hepatic artery was safely performed in patients with biliary malignancy. Arterial reconstruction can be indicated when the arterial involvement is the only obstacle to obtain negative surgical margins.

ABO‐incompatible deceased donor liver transplantation with the use of antigen‐specific immunoadsorption and anti‐CD20 monoclonal antibody

In patients with fulminant liver failure requiring emergency liver transplantation, the only donor organ that becomes available may be ABO incompatible. The risk of graft failure because of antibody-mediated acute rejection is high, but can be reduced by various means. We reported a deceased donor ABO-incompatible liver allograft recipient who was treated with antigen-specific immunoadsorption in combination with anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody and conventional plasmapheresis and immunosuppression. The patient was a 33-yr-old male with blood group A who presented with subacute liver failure of unknown aetiology and received a blood group AB liver graft. Pretransplant he underwent plasmapheresis and received one dose of rituximab. The immunosuppressive regimen consisted of methylprednisolone, tacrolimus and mycophenolate mofetil. Despite regular post-operative plasmapheresis sessions, anti-B antibody titres increased. Antigen-specific immunoadsorption with depletion of anti-B antibodies was performed from day nine to day 17. Thereafter, anti-B IgM and IgG antibody titres remained low. After one month the patient was reoperated with hepaticojejunostomy because of bile duct necrosis and with reconstruction of a stenotic hepatic artery. A mild rejection was successfully treated with methylprednisolone four months post-transplant. At six months post-transplant there was a stricture of the biliary-enteric anastomosis, but the graft was well functioning. We conclude that antigen-specific immunoadsorption can be an important adjuvant therapy to control recipient anti-A/B antibody levels and prevent acute rejection in ABO-incompatible deceased donor liver transplantation.

Complications of Arterial Reconstruction in Living Donor Liver Transplantation: A Single-Center Experience

Microsurgical reconstruction of the fine hepatic arteries (HA) reduces the chance of complications in living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). We reviewed HA reconstructions and analyzed their complications and treatment in a single center. Between August 1996 and September 2004, we performed LDLT on 71 adults and 19 children. Patients received a lateral segment graft (n = 16), a left lobe graft (n = 11), an extended left lobe graft (n = 12), or a right lobe graft (n = 51). Hepatic artery reconstruction was performed by end-to-end anastomosis under an operating microscope in all except five adults who received right lobe grafts with loupe magnification. Arterial complications developed in 5 (5.6%) of the 90 patients. Three patients required reanastomosis during their primary operation because of HA thrombosis, anastomotic kinking, and stenosis, respectively. There were three postoperative complications: an anastomotic stenosis, revised by percutaneous transluminal angioplasty; rupture of an HA pseudoaneurysm, treated by embolization; and anastomotic kinking, revised by reanastomosis. The patient with the pseudoaneurysm died of arterial complications. Multivariate analysis of cases before (4/13, 30.8%) and after 2000 (1/77, 1.3%) revealed that surgical experience was the only significant factor in reducing the incidence of HA complications (P = 0.007). Case number-dependent anastomotic reliability using microsurgical techniques is important for safer arterial reconstruction.

Back-Table Arterial Reconstructions in Liver Transplantation: Single-Center Experience

Anatomic variations of the arterial supply to donor liver grafts often require complex hepatic artery reconstructions on the back table. Therefore, because of the additional anastomoses, there is a greater risk of arterial thrombosis and graft loss. Among the 620 orthotopic liver transplantations (OLT) in 549 adult and pediatric patients performed from June 1983 through August 2004, the rates and types of donor hepatic artery variations (HAV) and the type of reconstructions were reviewed as well as the 1- and 5-year grafts and patient survival rates after OLT. At least 1 HAV was present in 133 liver grafts (21.4%). The most frequent variations were as follows: right hepatic artery (RHA) from superior mesenteric artery (SMA) (44 cases); RHA from aorta (4 cases); and RHA from SMA, combined with a left hepatic artery (LHA) from left gastric artery (3 cases). No graft was discarded. Fifty-six of 133 (42%) HAV required arterial reconstructions, generally a termino-terminal (TT) anastomosis between RHA and splenic artery (26 cases, 46.4%). Less frequently performed anastomoses were the “fold-over” technique (15 cases, 26.8%) and the anastomosis between the RHA and the gastro-duodenal artery (6 cases, 10.6%); rare reconstructions were performed in 9 cases (16.0%). The rate of hepatic artery thrombosis was 5.4% (3 of 56 OLT) in complex hepatic artery reconstructions and 2.2% in other grafts. One- and 5-years graft and patient actuarial survival rates have been respectively 73.2%– 71.4% in hepatic artery reconstructions and 78.6%–76.8% in the absence of an artery reconstruction, respectively.

Outcome of hepatic artery reconstruction in liver transplantation with an iliac arterial interposition graft

In case of anomal hepatic arterial inflow, it can be necessary to perform revascularization of the liver allograft by iliac arterial interposition graft. We analyzed retrospectively 613 liver transplants in a 16-yr period. The hepatic artery (HA) graft group (n = 101) consisted of patients with arterial inflow based on recipient infrarenal aorta using donor iliac artery graft tunneled through the transverse mesocolon. The control group (n = 512) consisted of patients who underwent liver transplantation with routine HA reconstruction. Both groups are homogeneous and comparable. In case of retransplantation, arterial conduit with iliac graft was adopted more frequently instead of conventional arterial anastomosis (24.8% vs. 9%, p < 0.0001). The 1-, 3- and 5-yr overall survival was 85.41, 79.42, 76.57% in the control group and 76.21, 73.43, 73.43% in the HA graft group, respectively (p = ns). The 1-, 3- and 5-yr graft survival was better in the control group (81.51, 73.66, 69.22% vs. 71.17, 62.50, 53.42%) (p = 0.01). In case of retransplantation, the 1-, 3- and 5-yr overall (57.81, 53.95, 41.96% vs. 60, 51.95, 49.85%) and graft survival (57.52, 53.68, 41.75% vs. 56, 50.4, 40.3%) was similar in control and HA graft group, respectively (p = ns). Hepatic artery thrombosis (HAT) rate is 21.8% vs. 8.6% (p < 0.0001) in HA graft group and control group, respectively. The only factor independently predictive of early HAT resulted arterial conduit (p = 0.001, OR = 3.13, 95% CI: 1.57-6.21). Retransplant procedure, donor age and arterial iliac conduit were found to be a significant risk factors for late HAT, at univariate analysis. At multivariate analysis, donor age >50 yr old resulted the only factor independently associated with late HAT (p < 0.0001, OR = 1.05, 95% CI: 1.02-1.07). Iliac arterial interpositional graft is an alternative solution for arterial revascularization of liver allograft in case of retransplantation when the use of HA is not possible. In case of primary transplantation, is better not to perform arterial conduit if it is possible, for poor graft survival and high incidence of early HAT, especially in case of liver donor aged over 50 yr.

Use of the recipient's own splenic artery graft to hepatic artery reconstruction in the living donor liver transplantation

Use of the recipient's own splenic artery graft to hepatic artery reconstruction in the living donor liver transplantation

Anatomic Variation of the Right Hepatic Artery and its Reconstruction for lIving Donor Liver Transplantation Using Right Lobe Graft

We analyzed the anatomy and reconstruction of the right hepatic artery (RHA) in 96 cases of adult-to-adult living donor right liver transplantations, during 2002. Most right livers had a single orifice ( n = 185, 96%). Seven right livers (4%) showed multiple arteries, namely a replaced artery in five cases and accessory arteries in two cases. Three liver grafts had two separate orifices: both arterial stumps were reconstructed in one case, and accessory arteries were ligated in two cases because of sufficient back bleeding. The mean diameter of the graft RHA was 2.4 mm (1–4). More than 60% (59 of 96) of graft arteries were anastomosed with distal branches of recipient RHA for size matching. Eleven graft arteries were anastomosed to vessels other than the RHA, namely the left hepatic artery [LHA] in eight right gastroepiploic artery in three: for size matching in five and due to previous injury of RHA in six. Five cases showed significant size-mismatches of more than twofold. The median follow-up period was 270 days. In one patient, an intramural thrombus developed on postoperative day 3 requiring a revision of the anastomosis. In another patient, arterial stenosis occurred on postoperative day 16 a time when collateral arteries had developed. The overall complication rate related to arterial reconstruction was 2%. In conclusion, with precise knowledge of the anatomy, an adequate selection of recipient arterial stump, and an experienced technique, a desirable result may be achieved in right lobe transplantation.

Inflammatory responses in a new mouse model of prolonged hepatic cold ischemia followed by arterialized orthotopic liver transplantation

The current models of liver ischemia/reperfusion injury (IRI) in mice are largely limited to a warm ischemic component. To investigate the mechanism of hepatic "cold" IRI, we developed and validated a new mouse model of prolonged cold preservation followed by syngeneic orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT). Two hundred and forty-three OLTs with or without rearterialization and preservation in University of Wisconsin solution at 4 degrees C were performed in Balb/c mice. The 14-day survivals in the nonarterialized OLT groups were 92% (11/12), 82% (9/11), and 8% (1/12) after 1-hour, 6-hour and 24-hour preservation, respectively. In contrast, hepatic artery reconstruction after 1-hour, 6-hour, and 24-hour preservation improved the outcome as evidenced by 2-week survival of 100% (12/12), 100% (10/10), and 33% (4/12), respectively, and diminished hepatocellular damage (serum alanine aminotransferase /histology). Moreover, 24-hour (but not 1-h) cold preservation of rearterialized OLTs increased hepatic CD4+ T-cell infiltration and proinflammatory cytokine (tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin 2, interferon-gamma) production, as well as enhanced local apoptosis, and Toll-like receptor 4/caspase 3 expression. These cardinal features of hepatic IRI validate the model. In conclusion, we have developed and validated a new mouse model of IRI in which hepatic artery reconstruction was mandatory for long-term animal survival after prolonged (24-h) OLT preservation. With the availability of genetically manipulated mouse strains, this model should provide important insights into the mechanism of antigen-independent hepatic IRI and help design much needed refined therapeutic means to combat hepatic IRI in the clinics.

Hepatic artery reconstruction with double-needle microsuture in living-donor liver transplantation

In living-donor liver transplantation (LDLT), reconstruction of the hepatic artery is challenging because the recipient artery is located deep in the abdominal cavity and the operating field is limited. Also, the hepatic artery of the graft is short and the recipient artery is occasionally damaged. To overcome these difficulties, we developed a double-needle microsuture technique for artery reconstruction. A total of 161 adult patients received 163 LDLTs using this new technique. The first suture was placed at the most difficult point in the artery to be visualized through the microscope. Each stitch was placed from the inner side of the arterial wall to the outer side. The posterior stitch was tied pulling toward the back. The subsequent sutures were advanced anteriorly on either side adjacent to the previous suture. Hepatic artery thrombosis occurred in 4 patients (2.5%), only 2 (1.2%) of which were associated with arterial reconstruction. Intimal dissection developed in the recipient artery in 2 patients (1.2%). Three (50%) of these 6 complications occurred more than 10 days after LDLT. In conclusion, this suturing technique allows for safe intimal adaptation even when the arterial tunica intima is separated from the tunica media, because all stitches are carried from inside of the vessel to the outside, contributing to more satisfactory results.

Living donor liver transplantation: present status and recent advances

The first successful living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) was performed in a child in 1989 in Brisbane and in an adult in 1994 by the Shinshu group. Over the past few years, LDLT has increased worldwide and is now an established alternative to deceased donor liver transplantation. The surgical procedures for LDLT are more technically challenging than those for whole liver transplantation. LDLT requires a full understanding of the hepatobiliary anatomy and continuous technical refinement of the procedure. Some of the technical highlights include selective vascular occlusion techniques for donor hepatectomy, hepatic arterial reconstruction under the microscope and the introduction of intraoperative ultrasound, graft volume estimation and hepatic venous reconstruction, all of which have improved the success rate of LDLT over the past few years. This review focuses on recent trends and surgical techniques for LDLT.

Extended Hepatectomy for Intrahepatic Cholangiocellular Carcinoma (ICC)

To evaluate the role of extended hepatectomy in locally advanced intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC). ICC is a rare tumor which has to be clearly distinguished from hepatocellular carcinoma and extrahepatic bile duct carcinoma. It is believed that long-term survival can only be achieved by surgical resection. Between April 1998 and March 2003, 50 patients with locally advanced ICC (tumor involvement of more than 4 liver segments) underwent surgical exploration. Data were analyzed with regard to patients' characteristics, intraoperative details, pathologic findings, and outcome measured by tumor recurrence, treatment of recurrence, and survival. Resectability rate was 27 of 50 (54%). There were 19 extended right and 8 extended left hepatectomies. In addition, in 16 patients the following 29 procedures were performed: resection of hilar bifurcation (n = 12), partial resection of diaphragm (n = 6), partial resection of vena cava (n = 4), resection and reinsertion of left liver vein (n = 1), portal vein resection (n = 5), resection and reconstruction of right hepatic artery (n = 1). Complete tumor removal (R0-resection) was achieved in 16 patients. In 11 cases, there was microscopic tumor at the cutting margin (R1-resection). Following resection, the overall 1- and 3-year-survival rates were 69% and 55%. After R1-resection and explorative laparotomy, median survival was 5 and 7 months, respectively. Following R0-resection, the calculated median survival and 1- and 3-year-survival rates are 46 months, 94% and 82% (P = 0.0039; log-rank test). Tumor recurred in 6 of 16 patients, and so far 2 patients died of recurrence 28 and 46 months after operation. R0-resection can provide prolonged survival, even in patients with advanced ICC. In particular in solitary tumors without vascular invasion (UICC stage I, sixth classification) there is a major chance for long-term survival and cure. The poor results after R1-resection and the high operative morbidity do not justify palliative resections but underline the need for an improved preoperative assessment of resectability, as well as an aggressive intraoperative approach, to achieve complete tumor resection.